Nov 9, 2018

Turkish Defense Ministry: 25 soldiers wounded in live fire accident

Turkish Defense Ministry: 25 soldiers wounded in live fire accident

ISTANBUL,
Nov 9 - Twenty-five Turkish soldiers have been wounded in the
southeastern province of Hakkari due to an accident that occured while
firing heavy ammunition, the Defence Ministry said on Friday, adding
seven soldiers were still to be reached.
The 25 wounded were transferred to hospital and are being treated, the
ministry said, adding that an investigation had been launched into the
accident.

The accident occurred at a base in Hakkari's Semdinli region, which is
located near the borders with Iran and Iraq, the Hakkari governor's
office said in a statement.

Turkey has in recent months carried out air strikes on bases of the
outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, especially its
stronghold in the Qandil mountains, where Ankara has also threatened to
carry out a ground offensive.

More than 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK launched its
insurgency in Turkey in 1984. It is designated a terrorist organization
by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.